Steam chamber



Nov. 12, 1968 G. JAUVAIS 3,409,915

STEAM CHAMBER Filed Dec. 1, 1965 INVENTOR 519560095 JAM/Al's ATTO R NEY United States Patent 10 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-163) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to the art of relaxation equipment and more particularly to a combined steam chamber and vibrating armchair, said steam chamber having means to provide superheated steam and also to provide a source of oxygen thereto.

As conducive to an understanding of the invention, it is noted that the generally beneficial affect of inducing perspiration by the application of heat to the body is well known. However, where the body is subjected to dry heat, excessive dehydration may occur. I

Where steam is generated by the heating of water to produce steam that is directly applied to the body, the vapor or steam wets the skin but does not penetrate it to any material degree.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a steam chamber in which a patient may comfortably be accommodated and in which the patient will be subjected to the application of relatively dry water vapor.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and more particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus,

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the vapor producing equipment,

FIG. '3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the armchair supporting mechanism,

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the mount for the vibrational shaft for the armchair, and

FIG. is a fragmentary side elevational view of the vibrational shaft. 3

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a chamber in which the patient is to be accommodated, more particularly the chamber which is substantially airtight, comprises a lower body portion I mounted on casters 2 to facilitate movement of the apparatus. An upper portion or cover 3 is pivoted as at 4 to the lower portion 1 so that the patient may readily enter the chamber.

The cover 3 has an opening through which the head of the patient may project.

The floor 5 of the lower portion 1 has rubber rollers 6 which support a second floor 7 on which is positioned a carriage 8. The carriage 8 has rubber rollers 9 mounted on yokes 10 with rubber vibration dampers 11 positioned between the crosspiece of the yoke and the floor 7. In addition, rubber dampers 12 and 13 are also provided to minimize vibration.

An armchair 14 is mounted on the carriage 8 and is vibrated by means of a shaft 15 which is 'driven by a motor M. The shaft is supported by brackets 19 mounted on carriage 8 with intervening vibration damping pads 8'. The shaft 15 is eccentrically mounted in washers 17, suitable rubber sleeves 16 being provided to prevent oscil lation.

The armchair is provided with arm rests 20 and may be inclined to various positions in conventional manner.

The vapor producing apparatus comprises a receptacle 21 which may be charged with distilled water to which suitable medicaments may be added if desired.

Positioned beneath the receptacle which is sealed, is an eletcrical heating resistor 22 desirably embedded in a suitable ceramic 23.

Positioned between the receptacle 21 and the resistors 22 is a horizontal coil tube 24, one end 25 of which leads into the receptacle 21 above the level of the water therein and the other end 26 of which leads into the lower body portion 1 of the chamber.

In operation, under the action of the heat produced by the resistors 22, the water in sealed receptacle 21 will rapidly be heated to form steam which will be forced through inlet 25 and the coil 24 to be discharged as a jet from outlet 26 at a point where it will not directly strike the patient.

As the resistors 22 will also heat the coil 24, the steam passing through the coil will be superheated and dried so that the resultant jet of vapor will have a relatively low water content which will effectively penetrate the skin of the patient.

By reason of the vibrating armchair, the patient will be completely relaxed when in the steam chamber and in addition suitable amenities may be provided for the patients comfort such as a motion picture projector 27 that projects on a screen 28, a bell-shaped head chamber 29 which carries a loud speaker 30, a fan 31 and an oxygen inlet 32 which is supplied from a suitable flask or container 34 through valves 33.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A steam chamber comprising a lower body portion, a cover portion adapted to be removably secured thereto said cover portion having an opening through which the head of the patient may extend, a bell shaped chamber positioned over said opening, means to apply asource of oxygen to said 'bell shaped chamber, a seat in said steam chamber to accommodate a patient, means to vibrate said seat vapor producing equipment in said steam chamber comprising a sealed receptacle for water, a heating element associated with said receptacle to raise the temperature of the water in the receptacle to the boiling point to develop steam therein, a coiled tube positioned adjacent said heating element, said tnbehaving an inlet end positioned in said receptacleabove the level ofthe water therein and an outlet end positioned in said steam chamber, whereby the steam forced through said coiled tube will be further heated by said heating element.

References Cited '1-,979;9s1 11/1934 'McKeson 4- 163 2,292,666 8/1942. Schurtz 4-.163 3,052,235 9/1962 Stewart 12s 33 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,362,084 4/1964 France. 574,700 3/1958 Italy.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. -1). MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

